Media Relations Officer

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing advocacy team, working with 24 leading UK universities. We’re looking for an outstanding Media Relations Officer to support all aspects of our media activity. 

Through collaboration and advocacy, the Russell Group works to advance and champion the positive economic, societal and cultural contributions of our universities. The Russell Group represents the interests of our 24 university members at the highest level of government, with media as well as with key research and innovation funders, with business, third-sector partners, regulators, and internationally with like-minded bodies. 

The Media Relations Officer will: 

• Support the Head of Media Relations in producing outputs and responses as part of our proactive and reactive media strategies.
• Coordinate with colleagues in the organisation and across the RG members to generate proactive news stories that promote our advocacy positions, and produce reactive lines that protect against reputational threats.
• Coordinate media activities relating to campaigns that promote RG positions including to support our Strategic Programmes and help deliver objectives identified as part of our longer-term communications planning.
• Liaise with our Digital Communications and Design Manager to ensure social media engagement is joined up with our wider media strategies and positions.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with media colleagues at RG members and other stakeholders to inform and optimise our media strategies and responses.
• Cultivate trusted relationships with a network of journalists, broadcasters, and other professionals in traditional and digital media, engaging with outlets and platforms that have national, regional and international reach.
• Participate fully in an integrated External Relations team including being part of an out-of-hours on-call rota. 

Applicants should demonstrate: 

• Experience in a busy press office environment, and in coordinating with colleagues on media issues and/or other communications functions and working with a range of external stakeholder organisations.
• Experience and confidence in engaging with journalists, broadcasters, and other media professionals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including producing outputs for different audiences.
• Ability to communicate complex policy work in a way which is media-friendly.
• Competent and imaginative in using new and emerging forms of communication, with experience of writing website copy and working with social media.
• Excellent political nous, judgement and awareness of complex policy positions, with the ability to manage the reputation of an organisation responsibly through media work. 

A Candidate Pack, which includes the full vacancy description, can be found via the 'Apply' button above.

Our offices are based in Westminster, but we offer flexibility for staff to work from home up to two days a week, subject to priorities. Benefits include: 

• Membership of USS pension scheme
• 25 days of Annual Leave at start, rising to 30 days
• Additional Easter and Christmas closure days
• Private healthcare insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme 

The starting salary is £40,000-£45,000, dependent on skills and experience. A higher salary may be available for exceptional and highly experienced candidates. 

Closing date: 17:00 - Wednesday, 7 October 2026. 

In-person interviews: likely to be held w/c 26 October 2026. 

To apply, please visit our Careers site via the 'Apply' button above and submit: 

1) An up-to-date CV, 2 sides of A4 covering:

• current and past employment
• degree qualifications including subjects / grades
• two references                                                                              

2) A cover letter, max. 2 sides of A4, explaining:

• how your knowledge, skills and experience meet our requirements
• why you are interested in working for the Russell Group 

Further information: https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/

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